Genesis 24

1 And Avraham was old, and well stricken in age; and יהוה had blessed Avraham in all things.

2 And Avraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh;

3 And I will make you swear by יהוה, the God of the heaven (Elohei hashamayim), and the God of the earth (Elohei haerets), that you shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;

4 But you shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac (Yitschaq).”

5 And the servant said unto him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land; must I needs bring your son again unto the land from whence you camest?”

6 And Avraham said unto him, “Beware you that you bring not my son thither again.

7 יהוה God of heaven (YHWH Elohei shamayim), who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, “Unto your seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before you, and you shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shalt be clear from this my oath; only bring not my son thither again.”

9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

11 And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

12 And he said, “O יהוה God (Elohim) of my master Avraham, please send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Avraham.

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.

14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, ‘Please down your pitcher, that I may drink’; and she shall say, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also’; let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Isaac (Yitschaq); and thereby shall I know that you have shewed kindness unto my master.”

15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Avraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water of your pitcher.”

18 And she said, “Drink, my lord (adoni)”; and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have done drinking.”

20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether יהוה had made his journey prosperous or not.

22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

23 And said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?”

24 And she said unto him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bare unto Nahor.”

25 She said moreover unto him, “We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.”

26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped יהוה.

27 And he said, “Blessed be יהוה God (Elohim) of my master Avraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth; I being in the way, יהוה led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.

29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Lavan; and Lavan ran out unto the man, unto the well.

30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “Thus spake the man unto me”; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

31 And he said, “Come in, you blessed of יהוה; wherefore standest you outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

32 And the man came into the house; and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.

33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, “Speak on.”

34 And he said, “I am Avraham’s servant.

35 And יהוה hath blessed my master greatly; and he has become great; and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

36 And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old; and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

37 And my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell;

38 But you shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.’

39 And I said unto my master, ‘Suppose the woman will not follow me.’

40 And he said unto me, ‘יהוה, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you, and prosper your way; and you shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:

41 Then shalt you be clear from this my oath, when you comest to my kindred; and if they give not you one, you shalt be clear from my oath.’

42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, ‘O יהוה God (Elohim) of my master Avraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go;

43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water of your pitcher to drink”;

44 And she says to me, “Both drink you, and I will also draw for your camels”; let the same be the woman whom יהוה hath appointed out for my master’s son.’

45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water; and I said unto her, ‘Please let me drink.’

46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

47 And I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him.’ And I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped יהוה, and blessed יהוה God (Elohim) of my master Avraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.

49 And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.”

50 Then Lavan and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing proceedeth from יהוה; we cannot speak unto you bad or good.

51 Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as יהוה hath spoken.”

52 And it came to pass, that, when Avraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped יהוה, bowing himself to the earth.

53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah; he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, “Send me away unto my master.”

55 And her brother and her mother said, “Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.”

56 And he said unto them, “Hinder me not, seeing יהוה hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.”

57 And they said, “We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.”

58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, “Wilt you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”

59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Avraham’s servant, and his men.

60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, “You are our sister, be you the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those which hate them.”

61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man; and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

62 And Isaac (Yitschaq) came from the way of the well Lahai-Roi; for he dwelt in the south country.

63 And Isaac (Yitschaq) went out to meditate in the field at the eventide; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac (Yitschaq), she lighted off the camel.

65 For she had said unto the servant, “What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?” And the servant had said, “It is my master.” Therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

66 And the servant told Isaac (Yitschaq) all things that he had done.

67 And Isaac (Yitschaq) brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac (Yitschaq) was comforted after his mother’s death.